Sophia's just a normal, regular merperson who only knows other merpeople. Today is her 11th birthday and is really excited to finally be a big kid. "Wow sis. I can't believe you're 11 years old already", says Leo. "It seems like it was just yesterday that we held you in our arms", says her mother almost crying." "Yeah...it's unbelievable", the young merperson smiles widely. "Hey I wanna tak you up to the surface and show you something when it gets dark out." "Okay then." "I think you'd like it." "I'm sure I will." (Leo takes his mother in a private area for just the two of them) "Mom...I need to talk to you." "What is it dear?" "Well...Sophia's 11 now and that when all witches and wizards are taken into hogwarts", says the worried boy. "They can't just take Sophia away from us...she's one of us now. She's my baby...she's not a witch...she's-" "Yes she is...she's half witch thanks to us", Leo cuts off his mother. She starts crying, "They just can't...they can't! They can't do this to us! She's just a little girl. It's too dangerous for her to be a witch! I don't know what I'd do without her." "I know mom...I know. But she was born to be a witch...a human witch." "I'd miss her so much. She's never been past the sea. She'd be a small fish in a big sea. She wouldn't know the first thing to do in the human world." "Yeah I know. It's getting late and I promised Sophia I would take her up to the surface tonight." "Alright dear." Leo says while they both go up to the surface, "See that star? You can make a wish on it." "Really?" "Yeah." "Hmm...don't know what to wish for, there's nothing I could ask for really." "You've always wanted to meet a human...haven't you?" "Well yeah, but I don't think I will anytime soon." Sophia closed her eyes and wishes to see an actual human and a letter appears in her hand." Leo looks at it suspiciously, "Woah. How did you do that Sophia?" She opens her eyes back up, "I didn't do anything. I made the wish you told me to." "Well...read it." She opens it up:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Sophia is shocked by what the letter says, "Is this some sort of joke? I'm no wizard. I'm a merperson." Leo looks at the letter in disbelief, "You're not really a merperson." "What? Then why do I have gills and fins? Please tell me you're joking." "I'm not your real brother", he sighs looking at the letter again, " Our family took you in because we knew something bad would happen to you if you stayed with your birth parents. We only wanted to protect you. We didn't know what the danger was, but we knew you wouldn't survive it...and we were right...your parents are dead and have been for a while now...right after you were born. You somehow adapted to the water and became half merperson. You are a witch Sophia." "I can't believe this...after all these years you didn't even give me the slightest clue about what I was. Why would you do that?" "We knew that you would leave out of the water if you knew and you probably wouldn't be here today...being a wizard is scary business...sometimes." Sophia gets out of the water for the first time and starts transforming into a human. She looks at her legs saying, "So...this is me? The real me?" "Yes...you're a witch...you were always one, but as soon as you get back into the water, you will turn back into one of us." "What do I do now?" "Just wait for Hagrid to come. He'll be coming very soon." (20 minutes later a half giant walks toward the sea) Hagrid looks at Sophia, "Hello there...you must be Sophia Potter." "Potter...so that's my real last name?" "Yes it is." "And I'm a witch?" "Yes you are. Those merpeople were only trying to protect you. Now lets go...we have a train to catch." She looks at Leo, "I guess this is goodbye Leo. Isn't it?" "No...of course not. Remember you can change back into one of us whenever you get back in water. You can visit us whenever you'd like. But I'll miss you a lot whenever you aren't here." Hugs her brother, "I'll miss you too Leo." Hagrid looks at Leo, "It was nice meeting you, but if you don't mind we have a train to catch to hogwarts." "I understand...see ya Sophia." "See ya. And tell mom that she will always be my mom...even if she isn't my real mother and that I'll miss her. I will definitely come visit whenever I can." "I know you will Sophia...just be careful in the wizarding wolrd. It's very dangerous. Evil things happen in that world...even us merpeople know about he-who-muct-not-be-names." "He-who-must-not-be-named? What is his name?" "We don't speak of his name...it's just like saying a curse." Hagrid wispers the name in her ear, "Voldemort." "His name is Voldemort?" Both Hagrid and Leo shush her. Leo says angrily, "I told you...don't speak his name!" "Oh...sorry. I mean it's just a name." "It's not just a name...he killed lots of people...he's nothing but pure evil...nothing good is from him...now lets go." "Okay Hagrid.""Bye little sister! Hope to see you soon!" "See ya soon", she says waving back at him.